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BioKnit: development of mycelium paste for use with permanent textile formwork
Romy Kaiser1, Ben Bridgens1, Elise Elsacker2
1Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment, School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
|July 31, 2023
Summary
This study introduces a novel biofabrication method using mycelium and knitted textiles to create strong, large-scale construction components. This innovation enhances material properties for sustainable and complex building designs.
Area of Science:
- Biofabrication
- Materials Science
- Sustainable Construction
Background:
- Mycelium-based composites offer sustainable alternatives for construction.
- Existing mycelium materials often lack the mechanical strength for large-scale applications.
- Textile formwork has potential but requires optimized integration with mycelium growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an advanced mycelium biofabrication process using permanent knitted textile formwork.
- To enhance the mechanical properties of mycelium-textile biocomposites for construction.
- To demonstrate the feasibility of fabricating large-scale, complex components.
Main Methods:
- Development of a viscous mycelium substrate ('mycocrete').
- Utilizing permanent knitted textile formwork for biofabrication.
- Employing an injection process to fill fabric tubes with mycocrete.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements in tensile, compressive, and flexural strength and stiffness.
- Successful fabrication of a 1.8m tall arched dome prototype (BioKnit).
- Demonstrated suitability for lightweight construction and complex shapes.
Conclusions:
- The combination of mycocrete and knitted textile formwork dramatically enhances mycelium composite performance.
- This biofabrication system enables the creation of novel, sustainable biohybrid composite materials for construction.
- The approach offers a pathway for low-environmental-impact, large-scale components with complex geometries.
